Israel’s military has increased its airstrikes in southern Gaza overnight. This comes after one of the deadliest days for Palestinians since the conflict started. There are international calls for a temporary halt in the fighting to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and prevent further casualties.
In Gaza, health officials reported that many more people were killed in the southern part, where hundreds of thousands had fled after Israel warned of an attack in the north. Israel’s goal is to eliminate Hamas militants who carried out attacks in Israel on October 7.
One of the airstrikes resulted in the collapse of several apartment buildings in Khan Younis. A resident, Khader Abu Odah, described it as something highly unusual and unprecedented.
The Palestinian community is deeply upset about these killings, and there’s a feeling of betrayal because even those who followed the directive to move to the south are now at risk. The Israeli military contends that Hamas, which governs Gaza, has positioned itself among the civilian population throughout the region.
Israel reported that in the past 24 hours, they conducted airstrikes in Gaza that targeted members of Hamas, including Tayseer Bebasher, who led the Hamas battalion in southern Khan Younis. They also aimed at tunnel entrances, command centers, weapon storage areas, and launch sites. Additionally, the Israeli military mentioned that they engaged a group of Hamas divers attempting to enter Israel from the sea near Kibbutz Zikim.
In Gaza City, up north, rescue workers managed to rescue a young child from the rubble, and they also tried to help a man who was partially buried and in distress, calling out for his family members.
In a video from the scene, one of the rescuers reassured, “I promise, they’re okay.”
Conflict in Lebanon and Syria raises concerns throughout the region.
Israeli jets also targeted Syrian military facilities in response to rockets launched from Syria, which is an ally of Iran. The Israeli military has expressed concerns that its ongoing conflict with Hamas, also supported by Iran, could escalate tensions in the wider region.
According to Syria’s state news agency, eight soldiers were killed, and seven others were wounded in the Israeli attack near the southwestern city of Deraa. It’s important to note that Israel did not specifically accuse the Syrian army of firing the two rockets that triggered air raid sirens in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. They didn’t provide details about the suspected perpetrators.
Iran, which has been seeking regional influence for many years and supports various armed groups in Syria, Lebanon, and other places, as well as Hamas, has warned Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza.
Furthermore, Israeli forces targeted five groups in Lebanon that were reportedly preparing for anti-armour missile attacks or rocket launches, as stated by spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. Lebanon’s Hezbollah, backed by Iran, confirmed that four more of its fighters were killed, bringing the total number of casualties within its ranks to 42 since the conflict began.
Appeals for a Humanitarian Ceasefire
The United States and Russia, along with other countries, are urging a temporary ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. The goal is to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza, where living conditions have become extremely difficult.
Egypt has resumed limited shipments of food, medicine, and water through the Rafah crossing, which is not controlled by Israel. However, these deliveries are insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, who rely heavily on aid even during peacetime.
The United States is calling for brief pauses in the fighting to facilitate aid delivery, while Russia is pushing for a more extensive ceasefire. Israel, on the other hand, has resisted both proposals, expressing concerns that Hamas might exploit such pauses to create new threats to its citizens.
The conflict began when Israel launched airstrikes on Gaza in response to a Hamas attack on southern Israeli towns in October, resulting in significant casualties on both sides. In a single day, 704 Palestinians, including 305 children, were reported killed, marking the highest daily death toll in the ongoing conflict.
Violent confrontations have escalated between the Israeli military and Palestinians in the West Bank, resulting in the deaths of over 100 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian health ministry.
In Gaza, the health ministry reported that, as of Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes had claimed the lives of at least 5,791 Palestinians since October 7, including 2,360 children.
Fuel Shortages Threatening Gaza Hospitals
More than one-third of hospitals in Gaza and nearly two-thirds of primary health clinics have had to close. This happened either due to damage from the conflict or because they ran out of fuel. UNRWA, the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees, has issued a warning that it will have to cease its operations in Gaza if it doesn’t receive a supply of fuel soon.
However, the Israeli military has reiterated its decision to block the entry of fuel to prevent it from falling into the hands of Hamas.
Qatari mediators are currently urging Hamas to expedite the release of hostages, including women and children. These talks involve the Gulf state, in cooperation with the U.S., as they lead the mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel regarding the hostage releases.
Hamas has released four hostages so far, including a mother and daughter with dual U.S.-Israel nationality last Friday and two Israeli civilian women on Monday.
